Smetana, Bedrich

1) the Polka Op.12 No.2 in E minor, inscribed and signed at the head ("Polka von Fr. Smetana") and dated and signed at the end ("14 April. 1860. Fr. Smetana"), elegantly notated in brown ink on up to six two-stave systems per page, with performance indications in German and Italian, 137 bars in all

2) a Ballade in E minor, a self-contained album composition fashioned from the unfinished E-minor Ballade of 1858, inscribed and signed at the head ("Aus der Ballade v. Fr. Smetana op. 13"), notated in brown ink on up to three two-stave systems per page, with performance indications in German and Italian, 37 bars in all



6 pages, plus 3 blank leaves, oblong 4to (c.26 x 34.3cm), decorative gilt borders, together with, on the same gilt-edged paper, 3 manuscripts of Schumann's song "Aus den östlichen Rosen", op.25 no.25, a manuscript copy of bars 1-5 of Smetana's Concert Study in G sharp minor ("Am Seegestade - eine Erinnerung") and a setting of "Ce n'est pas meme la souffrance",



11 leaves in all, unbound and contained in a contemporary portfolio of white boards, elaborately gilt and embossed, with a hand-coloured Biedermeier-style lithograph as centrepiece on upper cover and coloured embossed flowers in relief in centre of lower cover, [Göteborg], modern folding box, gilt titles, a few tiny tears to margins, lightly thumbed, splitting to hinge of portfolio 

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

RARE: This is a beautiful calligraphic manuscript contained in a charming contemporary portfolio formerly belonging to Smetana's Gothenburg muse and mistress Fröjda Benecke. Autograph music by Smetana is rare at auction: this is the most important and attractive manuscript by him that we have seen at auction. 

The two works contained in this manuscript date from the time of Smetana's prolonged Göteborg sojourn (1856-1861). One of his many young female pupils in the provincial Swedish town was Fröjda Benecke (1836-1923), a niece of his close friend, the singing teacher A.M. Nissen. A portrait of her painted in 1858 by another of Smetana's Göteborg friends, the artist Geskel Saloman, testifies to her beauty. Smetana seems to have been smitten from the start, and out of a close friendship there developed a deep and special bond. The somewhat complicated and entwined nature of Smetana's personal relations with the women in his life at this time is neatly reflected in the dedications of the group of four polkas he wrote in 1859-1860 (with the title "Souvenir de Bohême en forme de Polkas"): the first two polkas were published as Op.12 and dedicated to Fröjda Benecke; the remaining pair appeared as Op.13 with a dedication to Smetana's second wife Bettina.